Seesaw apparatus



April 5, 1938. J. K. Mil- TON E'r A|.

SEESAW APPARATUS Filed Sept. l, 1957 Patented Apr. 5, 1938 SEESAW APPARATUS John K. Milton and Curley Young, Chicago,; Ill.; said Young ,assignor to saidMilton Application Septemberfl, 1937, Serial No. 162,022

Claims. A (Cl. 272-54) Our invention relates to see-saw apparatus, and more particularly to the type in Which the see-saw is also rotatable in the nature of a merrygo-round, and our main object is to improve the 5 construction of a device of this kind in a mannerto -make the same more practical, durable and attractive.

A further object of the invention is to construct the novel apparatus along lines of siml plicity and easy assembly.

A still further object of the invention is to ern-lA l ploy in the novel apparatus only such units as` are strictly essential to the proper construction and operation of the apparatus, whereby to make the same inexpensiveto produce.

An additional object of the invention is to employ parts in the novel apparatus which lend themselves most advantageously to impart safety and beauty to the apparatus.

A significant objectof the invention is to includeinithe novel see-saw apparatus a simple brake unit to enable the same to be easily brought to a stop.

' With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a prospective view of the novel seesaw apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged duplication of the central portion of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of such central portion, partly broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Considering the development of the see-saw in the line of amusement apparatus, we are aware of the fact that see-saws have been devised which are capable of rotary travel as well as oscillatory motion. Usually, the structures involve a universal or other type of ilexible joint in the center of the apparatus. While the developments which have so far come to our attention may be more or less sound in principle, we

have not found any suiiciently practical or popular to be in use to any extent, and it has therefore been our purpose to develop a structure of this kind in ways consistent with modern requirements in respect to practicability, simplicity,

appearance and safety.

In accorda-nce with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawing indicates the novel seesaw apparatus in the general form of a post ID and a pair of beams I I. The post is for the purposes of our invention made of light but sturdy pipe, and the upper end of the same is enlargedI with a part-spherical headpiece Illa.

The beams II do. not meet the post directly,

but enter a pair of elongated sockets I2 Which-*'- are extended in diametrically opposite directions =5' from a part-spherical cup I3. 1 The cup is of va nature to receive the headpiece IIla of the postm Il) and form part of a ball-.joint therewith. The

balance of the joint is formed'by a part-spher-f cal cap I4 which is extended with a circular flangeV 10 l da r at its base. lHere the flange meets a similar..y flange |30, extended from the cup I3, bothflangesl-r being perforated `at VI5 for a' series-of bolts I6 to secure them together, completing .the ball joint. I

As the apparatus isset up by.sliding.the beams ,15 I I into the sockets .I 2, .thelatter arerequipped if with set screws. I'l-lto securefthe. beams in place. f

While the beams, and sockets" may bewofany1; cross-sectionaLform` it is preferable. that theyvv be: of the triangularsections indicated in'Fig..,4, finis' order that their f relative rotation: may?. not -bete; possible. This design presents a flat top and modernistic appearance, and we have found the material of the beams readily available in tubular stock.

The ends of the beams II are equipped with suitable seats I8, these being either plain or sprung in the manner of bicycle saddles for greater comfort. The seats are preferably built up in front as indicated at I8cL to receive cross- 30 handles I9 and so provide a good hold for each occupant.

The post I0 is adapted to receive a tubular extension 20 of a suitable length to place the seesaw at the proper height over the floor or ground. The extension is secured by a set screw 20a applied from the side of the post III; and it mayv terminate in the butt form indicated at MibI if the apparatus is set on a oor, or with a spiked extension 20c in case it is xed in the ground. 4U In either case, the extension receives a base plate 2l to add to its stability upon the oor or ground, the base plate having a high neck portion 2 Ia for the application of an upper set screw 2lb at one side and a lower one 2Ic on the op- 45 posite side to rigidly secure the base plate to the Post.

In order that the see-saw may be quickly brought to a stop from its oscillatory or rotary motion, we have provided a simple brake device 50 originating with a handy lever 22 carried by one of the beams II. As seen in Fig. 3, this lever takes the form of a rod 22a on the inside of the beam, such rod extending slidably into a bearing widened horizontally to accommodate a shoe I3c formed on the corresponding end of the rod 22a, a spring 23 from the beam serving to draw the rod inwardly, so that the shoe bears on the surface of the headpiece lUa. The lever 22 is operable in a longitudinal slot 22b whose outer end is of the bayonet type and serves to hold the lever in the retracted position. This is the normal position of the brake device when the seesaw is in use, but when it is desired to bring the same to a stop, the lever 22 is simply released from the bayonet hold, in which event the pull of the spring 23 causes the brake shoe I3 to bear on the headpiece lila with sufficient friction to gradually bring the see-saw to a stop.

It will be evident from the above description that we have provided a see-saw apparatus which is not only attractive and neat in appearance, but is also efhciently constructed. The apparatus is mostly of tubular metal, so as to be both light and strong, making its cost and upkeep economical. Further, the ball joint is formed from a simple assembly which is easily taken apart in case any lubrication, repair or other attention is required. Further, the ball joint cup is integally extended With the sockets l2, whereby to make them amply strong to safely support the beams Il either underI the strains of Weight or force. Further, the cap I4 forms a smooth dome for the center of the apparatus, eliminating projecting or other mechanical parts which may either be a menace to safety or subject to tampering. Further, the novel apparatus may be adjusted to any suitable height by means of the telescoping extension 20 in the post so as to render the same in proper position and safe to use. Further, the brake device is a handy control in case the occupants wish to have the seesaw slow down or stop, as this is otherwise difficult to do When the see-saw is in rotary or oscillatory action. Finally, the apparatus imparts a modernistic ornamental eifect due to the simplicity of its center post and peculiar formation of the extensions therefrom.

1. A see-saw apparatus comprising a center post formed with a headpiece of spherical curvature, a cup making a ball joint with the lower part of the headpiece, beams extended from opposite sides of the cup, and a cap supplementing the cup over the upper part of the headpiece.

2. The structure of claim 1, and means to secure the cap to the headpiece.

3. The structure of claim l, the cup and headpiece being marginally flanged, the flanges having matching perforations, and a series of bolts applied by way of the latter to secure the flanges together.

4. A see-saw apparatus comprising a center post formed at the top with one component of a ball joint, a member below forming the other component thereof, extensions from said member in opposite directions, and seats at the outer ends of the extensions.

5. A see-saw apparatus comprising a center post having a headpiece with a spherical curvature, a cup forming a ball joint with the headpiece, extensions from opposite sides of the cup forming the see-saw beams, and a device carried by one of the extensions and effective as a brake on said headpiece, the device including a rod disposed longitudinally in the extension, a shoe on the inner end of the rod and effective when the rod is actuated in the inward direction, a spring drawing the rod in the brake-applying direction, the extension being tubular and with a bayonet slot, and a lever continuation passing through the lattei` and operable to lock the brake in the release'd position upon the retraction of the lever.

JOHN K. MILTON. CURLEY YOUNG. 

